From lifeguard to chemist; Local girl got her start on Aquatics staff

Mignon Winterling started working for Ocean Pines at age 15 as a lifeguard, and then grew into a senior role in the Aquatics Department while spending her summers and holidays here between college breaks. 

A decade later, she is on the verge of finishing a prestigious graduate school program and starting an exciting new career, but says she’ll always look back fondly on the time she spent and the lessons she learned in Ocean Pines. 

 Winterling grew up in nearby Bishopville and used to swim at the Sports Core Pool in Ocean Pines with her family. She joined the Aquatics staff shortly after taking a lifeguard certification class. 

“One of my friends had already signed up for the class, so I decided to take it with her,” she said. “Most of us certified through that class were then hired by Ocean Pines and became coworkers and friends. 

“I have 10 summers of great memories lifeguarding for Ocean Pines,” she continued. “I worked year-round through high school … [and that] enabled me to fund a trip to Europe in my senior year.” 

After two summers of lifeguarding, Winterling started teaching in Ocean Pines, first with swim lessons and later as a lifeguard instructor. 

“When I went to college, I got certified to teach lifeguard- ing and started teaching for Ocean Pines after that,” she said. “Ocean Pines is such a great work environment, and it was nice to know I always had a summer job to come back to and could pick up shifts when I was home on breaks from school.” 

She later became involved in the Junior Lifeguard program in Ocean Pines, helping to bring up the next generation. 

“The Junior Lifeguard Olympics was a lot of fun, [and] the best part was when my Junior Lifeguards were old enough to take the lifeguarding class and I got to certify them,” she said. “As a returning lifeguard the last few years, I’ve particularly enjoyed seeing the guards I trained grow into seasoned lifeguards.” 

Winterling then became involved in an aquatics program in college, while working on her bachelor’s degree. 

“I studied chemistry at Towson University, where I also lifeguarded and taught CPR classes and eventually became an aquatics manager at Campus Rec,” she said. She also continued traveling, first spending a semester abroad in Australia and later deciding to pursue her graduate degree abroad. 

“I went to graduate school in Europe and spent a year in Paris studying cosmetics and perfumery, followed by a year in Italy studying business and management for the cosmetic industry as part of the European Fragrance and Cosmetics Master program,” she said. 

One last summer, and looking ahead 

This year, like so many people across the world, Winterling had her plans abruptly changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Instead of continuing her studies abroad, she had to return home. However, that gave her one more opportunity to lifeguard in Ocean Pines. 

“When the pandemic shut down my university in Italy, I was grateful to still have a place on the Ocean Pines Aquatics staff,” she said. “This year was my last summer lifeguarding. I still plan to keep teaching lifeguarding and CPR courses for Ocean Pines.” 

Winterling will also continue her pursuit of a graduate degree and has already started an exciting new job. 

“I just started my career as a cosmetic chemist in New York and am working on my thesis – on track to graduate at the end of March,” she said. “Unfortunately, I don’t get to fly to Paris for my thesis defense as planned, but I will enjoy a virtual graduation with the rest of the class of COVID-19.” Winterling said she will always remember her time in Ocean Pines, and that it was a formative experience that helped shape who she is today. 

“Ocean Pines is a unique and welcoming community that I have been blessed to be a part of,” she said. “The Aquatics staff became my second family and a support system through college and graduate school. Kathleen Cook, the director of Aquatics and my supervisor for the past seven years, has been an amazing mentor, both personally and professionally. When I look back on my time at OPA, I will always be grateful for the people I worked with, and the patrons that I got to know.” 

As for the next generation of guards, Winterling had one piece of advice: 

“Don’t be afraid to blow your whistle. Nobody likes a lame whistle blast when it’s time to clear the pool,” she said. 

Others on Winterling: 

Front Desk Clerk Susan Karson: 

“Mignon has been one of those young people that you work with that just leaves you in awe," Karson said. "She showed strong leadership skills, she was honorable, and she did her job with such dignity. It was very nice to watch her grow over the last three years that I've been here.” 

Winterling helped to set an example for the younger lifeguards, Karson said. 

“She certainly has left a legacy, and I would only hope that the folks coming up behind her can see that they too can do that,” she said. “She always earned it. She didn't get anything easy come – she worked for it and she worked hard.” 

Karson said her absence will create a “huge wake” in the department. 

“Almost like the U.S. Titanic!” she said. "She brought such calm, and she did so many of the programs and scheduling. But she also brought that sense of peace and she did it very quietly. She could always calm down a situation that could have gone one way or the other. She just had that uncanny ability, so she really will be sorely missed. 

“We want her back!” Karson added with a laugh. “We just wish her the best and, at some point, we’re going to have a field trip and go up and visit her in New York.” 

Resident Michelle Stewart: 

“We moved here six years ago and met Mignon when she was home on spring break, right before she went off to college for the first time, so it was kind of neat to watch her over the years grow and develop and turn into the amazing young woman that she is,” Stewart said. 

Stewart said Mignon had a positive impact on her grand- son, as well as on many other children in the community. 

“She’s kind of grown up with them, so that’s been a very pleasant experience,” she said. “We wish her the very best and we’re excited for her opportunity in the industry that she studied in. And we’re hoping we get the opportunity to see her when she comes home to visit, but she will be very much missed.” 

Aquatics Director Kathleen Cook: 

“Mignon moved from the ranks of being a lifeguard, to a pool operator, to a senior guard, to a head guard. In the last couple of years, she’s also assumed the responsibility of doing the scheduling during the summer – which is not an easy task. When we’re running full bore, it’s five pools and all the activities, and probably anywhere from 32-35 lifeguards,” Cook said. 

Winterling also helped develop and further the Junior Guard program that Cook originated. 

“Initially, I wrote the junior guard program, which we’ve had tremendous success with, and probably two or three years ago I turned that over to her, so she’s taught all the junior guards,” Cook said. “She’s also a lifeguard instructor, she’s a CPR instructor, and she started doing inventories for me. She just really assumed a strong leadership role and really was a senior leader on the staff.” 

Cook said the public has grown fond of Winterling as well, and they often ask about her. 

“She has such tremendous support behind her. She’s been with this community for 10 years and she’s probably saved countless children, and it all started at a lifeguarding camp,” Cook said. “She’s also a very gifted swim instructor and she taught a lot of kids in this neighborhood how to swim. 

“The parents in this community love for their kids to work here, because they know that they’ve got leadership and supervision, they’re going to be protected and be safe,” she continued. “And you watch them from when they’re 15 – and they’re 15! They’re naïve and they’re not the greatest lifeguards, and you have to consider that when you’re scheduling. But you watch them blossom.” 

At first, Cook said, young lifeguards are just that – young and inexperienced. But many go on to flourish. 

“In the beginning, they resist chores and responsibilities, and then if you go to some of my senior guards, they know what the routine is, they know what they need to do, and they do it without exception,” she said. “They watch those pools like a hawk, and they bring the younger guards along. It’s amazing for me to watch the transformation.” 

Cook said she has specially loved watching Winterling grow into a leadership role, and then take those lessons with her into the next chapter of her life. 

“It gives me great joy and she’s worked so very hard,” she said. “If you ask her, she’ll tell you she’s a scientist, and to receive her degree and move out to follow her passion, I’m beyond humbled and thrilled for her – and we played a role in that. The money that she earned helped pay for her books and her tuition. 

“I think it’s a great story and we have a lot of them here,” Cook continued. “A lot of pool patrons know the lifeguards’ names and they know who they are, and they have their favorite guards. And there’s some of them that know them because they saved their kid! 

“I just think Mignon was an amazing asset. I was very, very lucky to have her. I’m so thrilled for her and her success, but it does create a tremendous void on our team,” Cook said.